How to Make Surfactants for Plants

Soaps have been used to control insects for more than 200 years.

A surfactant, short for surface active agent, is a substance that decreases the surface tension of a liquid. In gardening, surfactants help pesticides stick to plants, thereby making them more effective. While surfactants are available at many local garden centers, you don't need to make a trip to the store to acquire this ingredient; surfactants can be made in a variety of ways with simple home products, such as liquid dish soap, water and vegetable oil.

1

Mix 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons mild liquid dish soap into 1 gallon of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. While using, shake the bottle often to keep the ingredients well blended. This solution can be used as an insecticidal spray or horticultural oil on plants affected by pests such as aphids, adelgids, lacebugs, mealybugs, whiteflies, leaf beetle larvae, mites and spider mites.

2

Mix 2 1/2 tablespoons of mild liquid dish soap into 1 gallon of water and pour into a spray bottle. Mix well before use. This solution works well on pests such as adelgids, aphids, leafhoppers, mealy bugs, plant bugs, psyllids, sawfly larvae, scales, spider mites, whiteflies and wooly aphids.

3

Mix 1 cup of sunflower oil and 2 tablespoons of mild liquid dish soap into 1 cup water. Pour solution into a spray bottle and shake well before use. This mixture is an effective pesticide against whiteflies, aphids and spidermites. Reapply every 2 weeks.

4

Add 1 teaspoon of mild liquid dish soap into 1 gallon of pesticide. Screw the lid tightly onto the pesticide container and shake well to mix the soap with the pesticide. Shake well before and during use to help the soap remain well-integrated.

Things You Will Need

Vegetable oil

Mild liquid dish soap

Sunflower oil

Pesticide

Spray bottle

Tips

The best time to spray plants is in early morning or evening, out of the heat of the day.

Try your homemade surfactant on a few inconspicuous plants first to ensure that it does not burn them. Apply the spray and wait seven days; if damage does not develop, your solution is safe to use.

About the Author

Based in Fort Worth, Sarah Mason has been writing articles since 2009 on topics including nutrition, fitness, women's health and gardening. Her work has appeared in "Flourish" and "Her Campus." Mason holds a Bachelors of Arts in economics from the University of Florida.